Conveyer control



Feb. 28, .1933.

D. E. KEECH CONVEYER CONTROL Filed Jan. 28, 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb.28, 1933. D.E. KEEcH CONVEYER CONTROL Filed Jan. 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES DANA E. KEECH, OF GLENDALE,CALIFORNIA CONVEYEB CONTROL Application meaanuary 2s, 1930. seriaiNo.424,086.

. My invention relates to conveyer controls and particularly to suchcontrols as are automatically operated by articles carried on theconveyer.

While my invention is adaptable to many different situations involvingconveyers, the embodiment of it disclosed herein comprises an automaticconveyer intersection switch.

The general purpose of such switches is to prevent articles on a feederconveyer from fouling those carried on a main conveyer onto which thefeeder discharges. Switchesare in general use for this purpose but theyall fall short of satisfactorily accomplishing it.

The principal difficulty seems to have been that under certaincircumstances a boxy which it is desired to restrain from passing intothe intersection will come to rest supported partly upon a dead conveyerand partly on a live one. Thus supported, the boX may be dragged slowlyonto the live conveyer just in time to be carried into the intersectionand foul another box having the right of way.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide. an automaticcontrol for a conveyer which will not halt operation of said conveyerwith an article resting partly on said conveyer and partly olf of it.

It is also an object to provide, by the use of this means, a conveyerintersection switch which will not jam.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects, as well as furtherobjects and advantages will be made manifest in the followingdescription and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the automaticconveyer intersection switch of my invention. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. u

Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic plan views illustrating the operation ofthe invention.

Fig.l 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the control member ofmy invention. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2 illustrating a detail of the control member positioningmechanism. f Referring specifically to the drawings, the

illustrated embodiment of the invention is indicated generally by thenumeral 10 and includes a primary conveyer 11 and a secondary conveyer12. The primary conveyer 11 has a frame 13.which includes upperlongitudinal members 14 and 15 and legs 16 and 17. Connecting two of thelegs 17 is a lower longitudinal member 18. Supported-'Sin the usualmanner by the'longitudinal members 14 and 15 is a conveyer belt 20. Thebelt 20 is cono tinuously driven by any suitable power means (notshown). z

The secondary conveyer 12 includes a frame 30 having upper longitudinalmembers 31 and 32 which are supported upon vlegs y33. 65 The member 32connects directly to the frame member 14 while the member 31 is providedwith a bracket 35 which connects to the primary conveyer frame member14. One of the legs 33 is provided at the juncture of the 70 bracket 35with the horizontal frame member 31 and this leg 33 is braced by upperand lower diagonal braces 37 and 38 to the primary conveyer frame 13.

J ournalled in suitable b'earings attached 75 toAthehorizontal members31 and 32 is a shaft 40 carrying a pulley drum 41 and a sprocket 42.Disposed about the drum 41 and driven lthereby is a secondary conveyerbelt 43 which is disposed as shown and sup- 80 ported in the usualmanner upon the frame members 31 and 32. Supported on a shaft 45 whichjournals in suitable bearings provided on a pair of the legs 33 is aclutch 47 and a pinion sprocket 48. Disposed about the shaft 4 5 to.keep the clutch 47 4normally closed is a spring 49 which is adapted tobe compressed by a clutch lever 50, Which is fulcrumed at one endvon theframe 30. The clutch 47 is adapted to be rotated by a ring 90 sprocket55 provided on the periphery thereof and engaged by a chain 56. When theclutch.47 is engaged the sprocket 48 is driven thereby which in turndrives the sprocket 42 through the chain 57 so as to rotate the drum 9541 and draw the conveyer belt 43 in the direction of the arrow 60. lInorder to keep the belt 43 at the proper tension a belt tightener 61 isprovided on the frame 30.

Mounted between the member 37 andthe 100 bracket 35 are four rollers 65,the uppermost elements of which are on substantially the same level asthe upper flight of the belts 20 and 43.

Trammz'ssz'on control member and positioning meohamsm The bracket 35 isso formed as to provide an open space therethrough which is locatedclosely adjacent to the discharge end of the secondary conveyer belt ofthe conveyer 12. Mounted on a lower portion of a shaft 71 which isjournalled in suitable bearings provided on inner faces of the diagonalbraces 37 and 38 is a short arm 72 which is connected by a link 73 tothe free end of the clutch lever 50. Mounted upon the upper end of theshaft 71 is a clutch arm 75 the end of which is disposed opposite thespace 70 in the bracket 35.

Mounted on the outer end of the clutch con trol arm 75 is a controlmember 78. The member 78 includes an upright bar 79 having a slot 80formed therein in which a roller 81 is disposed. The roller 81 isrotatably secured upon the outer end of the clutch control arm 7 5 by ascrew 82 so that when the screw is in place the bar 79 is trappedbetween the end of the arm 75 and a washer 83 which is placed around thescrew 82, but the bar 79 is slidable vertically on the roller 81 thefull length of the free space in the slot 80. An upper end portion 85 ofthe bar 79 is oifset as shown in Fig. 5 so that an antifriction roller86 mounted upon this portion is substantially in alignment with the mainbody of the bar 79. When the bar 79 is in its lowermost posltion asshown in Figs. 2 and 5 the roller 86 is disposed out of contact withobjects passing thereover on the belt 43 ,and the rollers 65, but whenit is in its uppermost position with the roller 81 disposed in the lowerend of the slot 80 the antifriction roller 86 extends above the surfaceof the belt 43 a sufficient distance to be engaged by an article carriedthereon for a purpose which will be made manifest further on in thisdescription.

The control member 78 is adapted to be positioned for actuation by apositioning mechanism 87 .i This includes a ball and socket joint 88which connects the lower end of the bar 79 to an arm 89 of a bell crank90. The bell crank 90 is j ournalled in a pair of bearings provided upona horizontal frame member 96 extending from the diagonal brace 38 to oneof the posts 17. The opposite end of the bell crank 90 from the arm 89has an arm 97.

The mechanism 87 also includes vertical shafts 101 and 102, these beingmounted in suitable bearings provided upon thc frame 13, the lower endof shaft 101 having an arm 103 secured thereto. To the outer end of thearm 103 is pivoted a tubular link 105 the opposite end of which isprovided with a rod 108 extending therefrom as clearly shown in Fig. 6.The rod 108 extends through a swivel block 109 having la stud 110 whichextends through and pivots in a head portionlll of the bell crank arm97. Suitable securing means 112 as shown in Fig. 6 retain the block 109upon the head 11. Disposed about the rod 108 and held thereon by locknuts 114, which are screwed onto the end of the rod 108, is acompression spring 115. This spring is normally under a tension so as topressurably hold the block 109 against the adjacent end of the link 105.

Secured upon the upper ends of the shafts 101 and 102 are arms 118 whichare pivotally connected by a box contacting bar as shown in Fig. 1.

Also connected to the pivotal joint be tween the arm 103 and link 105 isa tension spring 122 which is also connected to the` frame 13 so as tourge parts of the mechanism 87 into positions as shown in Fig. 1 wherethe bar 120 is disposed over the belt 20 and its rear end is pressingagainst a stop 123 as shown in Fig. 1.

Provided upon suitable metallic standards 125 which are secured totheframes 13 and 30 are metallic box guides 126, 127, 128 and 129. Theform of these guides is shown in Fig. 1. The guide 126 extendsdiagonally' across the discharge end of the-secondary conveyer 12 andthen bends back to form the guide 129, disposed alongside the primaryconveyer 11 opposite the box contacting bar 120. The guide 127 is socurved and disposed, as shown, to shunt the rear portions of boxes ontothe belt 20 when these have arrived at a position as shown by theleading box in Fig. 4. The Guide 128 per forms the function ofpreventing the leading ends of boxes passing from the secondary conveyer12 onto the primary conveyer 1l from extending over the right hand edgeof the belt 20 after they are entirely through the intersection 10.

The operation of my linvention is as follows:

To begin with, the action of the spring 122 holding the parts of themechanism 87 in the position in which they are shown in Figs. 1 and 2causes the transmission control member 78 to rest in its downward orinactive position so that a box carried on the secondary conveyer 12 maypass over the control member and onto the primary conveyer 11 providing,of course, that there are no boxes upon the primary conveyer which willinterfere with such a transfer. As before stated, it is the principalobject of the intersection switch 10 to permit the transfer of boxesfrom the secondary conveyer 12 onto the primary conveyer lll'without anysuch interference being possible. The manner in which this object isaccomplished will now be explained.

In Figs. 1, 3 and 4 are shown boxes carried on the conveyers 11 and 12in three successive situations, each situation developing from thatpreceding it in the normal operation of the intersection 10. Aspreviously stated, the belt of the primary conveyer 11 is continuouslyin operation so as to carry boxes disposed thereon in the direction ofthe arrow 130. In Fig. 1 the secondary conveyer 12 is in motion so as tocarry boxes resting thereon towards the belt 20. In this ligure we seebox A on the primary conveyer 11 which has just passed out of contactwith the box contacting bar .120 permitting the spring 122 to returnthis to its normal position as shown. Also resting on the primaryconveyer 11 is a box B just about to contact the bar 120 so as to swingit outwardly and cause the link 105 to be drawn away from the block 109.This will place a yieldable pressure of the spring 115 against thisblock, tending -to operatively position the control member 78. Travelinover the secondary conveyer 12 are boxes and D, the front end of theformer having just extended over the clutch control member 78 so thatthis member will not be able to rise into its upward or operativeposition when box B contacts the arm 120 with the results above noted.Thus when box contacts the arm 120 the spring 115 will be compressed andthe roller 86 will be forced under its pressure against the bottom ofbox C. Box D closely follows box C as shown. j

In Fig. 3 box A has passed out of the picture, box B is in contact withthe arm 120 approaching the juncture of the primary and secondaryconveyersll and 12 at a safe distance from box C, which is turning thecorner onto the belt 20 as shown and is entirely free from the secondaryconveyer 12. Box C is still disposed over the control member 78 and isholding this in its downward'position.

Box D is still closely following box C but as. yet rests practicallyentirely on the secondary conveyer 12. Owing to box C being carried awayby the belt 20 a gap 131 is created between the boxes C and D in whichthe transmission control member 78 may rise when it has been cleared bybox C.

Fig. 4 shows box C as it is disposed practi# cally entirely on theprimary conveyer 11. Box B has further advanced but is still in contactwith the bar 120. Thus the control member 78 is still urged upwardly andas it has been freed from beneath box C it ha-s risen into its upwardposition and into the path of box D and has been contacted thereby sothatmotion of the box D on the belt 43 has carried the control member 78with it,

.rotated the shaft 71 and swung the clutch `lever 50 so as to disengagethe clutch 47,

the point of juncture between primary and secondary conveyers 11 and 12.As the box B passes out of contact with the arm 12() it will beapproximatelyy in the same position as box A in Fig. 1. At this moment,parts of the mechanism 87 return to their positions in which they areshown in Fig. 1 under the power of the tension spring 122 which causesthe mechanism 87 to draw the control member 78 downwardly so that itdisengages the front end of box C and permits the clutch 47 to bereengaged under the action ofV the clutch spring 49, which causes themotion of the clutch lever 50, which moves the control member 78rearwardly into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. With theengaging of the clutch 47, motion of the secondary con-` veyer 12recommences and box D is fed onto the primary convey-er 11 in the samemanner as previously described for box C.

It is thus seen that owing to the yieldable urging of the control member78 into the path v of boxes on the secondary conveyer 12 this conveyercan never be stopped with a box partly upon this conveyer and partlyupon the belt 20, thereby causing a hangoverf where it is desirable thatthe functioning of that controlv so actuated shall be deferred until anarticle reaches a definite position on the conveyer and that thisdeference be accomplished even though at the time the control isactuated an article is already slightly beyond this position so thatafter said actuation that article will be fed from the conveyer withoutthe functioning of the control to stop the conveyer. Jamming is thuspositively prevented in the intersection switch l0 by virtue of the factthat thearm 120 is long enough so that any box on the primary conveyer11 coming into contact with the arm 120 will have to travel such adistance before reaching the juncture of thetwo'conveyers that any boxon the secondary conveyer at .the'time the bar 120 was first contactedand which' was advanced far enough towards the primary conveyer sov asto extend over the control member7 8 will have ample time to completelytransfer to the primary conveyer before the first mentioned box arrivesat said point of juncture. Moreover, the secondary conveyer 12 aspreviously pointed out, can never be stopped with the box resting partlythereon and extending into the path of boxes carried on the primaryconveyer 11, as the only time that the conveyer l2 can be stopped iswith a box in the position of box D in Fig.- 4, so that all Aboxespreceding it complete the transfer onto the primary conveyerand 4Lacasse all those following it are at rest upon the sec ondary conveyer.n

It is therefore clear that, while I have shown but a single embodimentof my invention, many other uses and adaptations of the invention mightbe made without departing from the "spirit of the invention or the scopeof the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination: a primary conveyer; a-

secondary conveyer disposed at an angle thereto and adapted to dischargeboxes onto said primary conveyer; means for guiding said boxes over theangle between said conveyers toward the direction of travel of saidprimary conveyer, as said boxes are discharged onto said primaryconveyer; anda control member disposed in said angle and adapted to beextended upwardly to be actuated to perform a control function whenengaged by the front of one of said boxes, contact with the bottom of abox being ineffec tive to actuate said control member.

2. A combination .as in claim 1 in which means is provided for stoppingand starting said secondary-conveyer, said means being controlled bysaid control member to stop said secondary conveyer when the front of abox thereon engages said control member; and a member responsive to abox on said primary conveyer, approaching said intersection, andconnected to said control member to extend the latter upwardly intoposition to be actuated by a box on said secondary i, conveyer.

'3. In combination: a primary conveyer'; a secondary conveyer disposedat an angle thereto and adapted to discharge boxes onto said primaryconveyer; guide means for shifting a box laterally on said secondaryconveyer as it is about to be discharged therefrom onto said primaryconveyer, thus forming a free space between the rear end of said box anda second box immediately following; means controlling the movement ofsaid sec ondary conveyer; and an actuating member for said control meansadapted to be urged into said space in the path of boxes on saidsecondary conveyer, said member being responsive to engagement with afront face of a box to stop said secondary conveyer but unresponsive toengagement with a longitudinal face of a box, to accomplish this result.

4. A. combination as in claim 3 in which a positioning member isprovided for urging said control actuating member as aforestated whensaid positioning member is engaged by a box on said primary conveyerapproaching said intersection.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 3rd day of January, 1930.

DANA E. KEECH.

